After hearing names like Alan Horne (left) and Jeff Marquez being tossed around as major league relief options, I asked Newman if there were any pitchers designated as possible relievers. His answer, in short, was that anyone and everyone is a bullpen possiblity. ...

I brought up Horne, Marquez, Steven White, Kei Igawa and Chase Wright as bullpen options and Newman didn't shoot down any of them.

“I want to state clearly and without qualification: I did not take steroids, human growth hormone or any other banned substances at any time in my baseball career or, in fact, my entire life. Those substances represent a dangerous and destructive shortcut that no athlete should ever take.

I am disappointed that my 25 years in public life have apparently not earned me the benefit of the doubt, but I understand that Senator Mitchell’s report has raised many serious questions. I plan to publicly answer all of those questions at the appropriate time in the appropriate way. I only ask that in the meantime people not rush to judgment.”

Both have expressed "preliminary interest" in Prior, John Boggs, the pitcher's agent, said yesterday. "But it hasn't been anything more than that. Next week will probably be pretty busy."

“I am glad that he did that, maybe I would have done the same thing, God knows. I want to help the team as quick as I can," said Rivera, who said he has never thought of using HGH and admitted to being naïve about baseball's drug culture. “It was the wrong thing to do but I support Andy and the way he works and how hard he works. I am glad he said that. We all make mistakes. We don't point fingers at other people, I don't think like that. I love Andy and I support Andy's decision. The thing that I admire about him is that he came out and said he was sorry and that he did it."

Rivera and the Yankees formally finalized a three-year agreement worth a reported $45 million on Monday. The pact will keep Rivera, a Yankee since 1995 and the most dominant postseason closer of all-time, in New York.

"It's great," Rivera said. "That's what I wanted. To me, it was important to finish with the Yankees, because that's the only team that I have played with. I wanted to wrap it up with the Yankees, and we were able to do it. The Yankees and I got to the agreement, and thank God it's done."